quilted inspiration

Look at these beautiful scraps from an old patchwork quilt. The creases and wear, the mottled colours and delicate prints and the history behind them; someone carefully hand stitching it all into place. I'd love to get in the dye lab and reproduce these quirky prints, watch this space, if I can get my hands on these gems, SS12 might be floaty tea dresses and bloomers in these prints!

These pieces were found at Ironing Board Studio, a beautiful online shop specialising in vintage textiles, based in the stunning Cotswolds (where I was born!). So many incredible things I want to display around the studio.

vintage garment inspiration

...back when dress making was really an art

doll fever

Scrabbling around the West End very early one morning this week, look what I came across...

A few of the dolls are for sale as brooches, but most of the bigger ones look like they were commissioned purely for the window display. I love collecting old handmade dolls, especially when you can see the hand stitching on the seams. When I've collected all my scraps together I'd like to try making some long legged hand stitched creatures, some small for brooches but others to display around the studio. Perhaps I should make them to display costumes like the Theatre De La Mode couture dolls of the 1940s. I love their spindly legs and blushed cheeks, they'd make a lovely treat to put inside a dress parcel...

etsy inspiration: things i wish i'd made

sellers from top to bottom: abandc, LeMuse, savagespider, NyreeRoseOriginals, fashionloft, JRoseAtelier, whichgoose, Nadinoo, avantgarage, bigyellowtaxivintage, sailonbaby, sisterstreasure.